FIT and Kandor Sports announce exclusive partnership to elevate international Touch Rugby experience

The Federation of International Touch (FIT), the global governing body for Touch (also known as Touch Football and Touch Rugby), and Kandor Sports, the Swiss-based sports growth company, have announced an exclusive commercial partnership focused on enhancing the experience surrounding international Touch events and supporting the continued professionalisation and growth of the sport.

Beginning with the 2027 season, FIT and Kandor Sports will work together to further develop the ecosystem around FIT events, with a particular focus on participant services, fan experience, merchandising and new commercial opportunities.

The partnership will seek to make the experience around international Touch more professional, consistent and accessible for players, referees, teams, officials, spectators and the wider Touch community. Kandor Sports will work alongside FIT, National Touch Organisations and local event organisers to develop and implement these initiatives across FIT events.

The 2027 season will represent the first phase of the partnership, creating a platform from which FIT and Kandor Sports can develop a long-term strategic relationship and continue to strengthen the commercial and participant experience around international Touch.

Chris Simon, Chief Operating Officer of the Federation of International Touch, said:

“Touch continues to grow around the world, and with that growth comes an opportunity to further professionalise the experience we provide to our community. Our partnership with Kandor Sports is an important step in that direction.”

“By improving participant services, developing the experience around our events and broadening our commercial platform, we want to create greater value for everyone involved in Touch, from players and referees to our National Touch Organisations, partners and fans. Importantly, building a stronger and more sustainable commercial ecosystem will also help us support the continued development and growth of the sport globally.”

Roger Lodewick, CEO of Kandor Sports, said:

“We founded Kandor Sports around a simple ambition: to help build challenger sports into champions. Touch is a fantastic example of a sport with a large passionate global community and significant potential for further growth.”

“We believe that sustainable growth starts by professionalising the ecosystem around the athletes. Together with FIT, we want to enhance the entire experience around international Touch, from the services participants receive to the way fans engage with events and the opportunities created for the wider Touch community.”

-ends-

About Kandor Sports

Kandor Sports is a Switzerland-based sports growth company that partners with ambitious sports organisations to build, professionalise and grow their ecosystems.

Kandor Sports combines strategic thinking with hands-on execution across commercial development, technology, partnerships, fan and participant experience, events and new business models.

Kandor Sports was founded by international sports and media executive Roger Lodewick. His career has included senior leadership roles at Viaplay Netherlands, ESL FACEIT Group and DreamHack Sports Games, as well as more than a decade at TEAM Marketing, working across traditional sport, media, event and esports.